NVIDIA SHIELD: The Ultimate Portable Gaming Family

Get the best Android development tools for NVIDIA® SHIELD™: the ultimate Android gaming platform.

NVIDIA SHIELD tablet and SHIELD portable are Android gaming devices designed for gamers who yearn to play when, where and how they want. Built around the advanced NVIDIA Tegra® mobile processor, breakthrough Wi-Fi technology, console quality game controllers and stunning HD video and audio, NVIDIA SHIELD redefines what gaming can be.

Android Gaming

100% Android: SHIELD ships with Google's Android operating system and is kept up to date by NVIDIA OTA servers. This means the latest APIs and software are available to help developers create immersive gaming experiences.

Using the SHIELD portable or pairing the SHIELD tablet with the SHIELD wireless controller couples a console-grade game controller with the advanced Tegra processor. NVIDIA then provides world class Android development tools to make SHIELD the best way to develop class leading and cutting edge Android games.

Stream games like World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and DOTA 2 to an HDTV and play with full Bluetooth keyboard and mouse support.

Seamlessly record gaming moments or stream game action to Twitch as you play with NVIDIA ShadowPlay™.

Tips for developers looking to use GameStream to stream from PC to SHIELD can be found here.

SHIELD tablet

The NVIDIA SHIELD tablet delivers the perfect mix of power, portability, and performance built around the NVIDIA Tegra K1, the world's fastest mobile processor. For developers and gamers alike, SHIELD tablet provides unbeatable graphics, video, and audio, the most advanced, responsive stylus, and the freedom to pair with the optional SHIELD wireless controller for ultimate gaming control.

The SHIELD tablet delivers everything you need to get the most from your games, movies, and apps.

Recovery Images

NVIDIA also publishes binary "recovery images" for users wishing to revert to factory or OTA images. Download factory and OTA recovery images from the Download Center then unzip from a BASH or CYGWIN command prompt with "bash ./filename.sh" to display the license agreement and unpack the recovery files. Note: if using CYGWIN, be sure to install the "more" command.

Windows USB Driver

NVIDIA provides updated Windows USB drivers for developers having issues with the default Google adb driver. If your machine is unable to detect the SHIELD tablet, download this driver and follow the instructions linked from the Download Center.

Recovery Images

NVIDIA also publishes binary "recovery images" for users wishing to revert to factory or OTA images. Download factory and OTA recovery images from the Download Center then unzip from a BASH or CYGWIN command prompt with "bash ./filename.sh" to display the license agreement and unpack the recovery files. Note: if using CYGWIN, be sure to install the "more" command.

Windows USB Driver

NVIDIA provides updated Windows USB drivers for developers having issues with the default Google adb driver. If your machine is unable to detect the SHIELD portable, download this driver and follow the instructions linked from the Download Center.

SHIELD Developer Resources & Information

Quick Start Guide

SHIELD Developer Tools

Count on NVIDIA's developer tools to help deliver console-quality games, next-gen apps and unleash the raw power of the Tegra processor. NVIDIA's provides developers with a collection of applications spanning desktop and mobile targets enabling developers to build, debug, profile and develop class leading and cutting edge software that utilizes the latest visual computing hardware from NVIDIA.

Android Development Resources

Start Developing for SHIELD Today!

Join the NVIDIA GameWorks™ Registered Developer Program, an important part of NVIDIA’s commitment to the Tegra Developer community. This program gives NVIDIA a way to provide pre-release information and content and the latest Tegra news, updates, developer tools, samples, OS images, and tips and tricks. All development tools are freely available to Registered Developers under the NVIDIA GameWorks Download Center.